Measurements of [C I] Emission from Comet Hale-Bopp

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

9

Comets: Individual: Name: Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1)

Scientific paper

We present quantitative measurements of cometary [C I] 9850 Å emission obtained during observations of comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) in 1997 March and April. The observations were carried out using a high-resolution (λ/Δλ~40,000) Fabry-Pérot/CCD spectrometer at the McMath-Pierce Solar telescope on Kitt Peak. This forbidden line, the carbon analog of [O I] 6300 Å, is emitted in the radiative decay of C(1D) atoms. In the absence of other sources and sinks, [C I] 9850 Å emission can be used as a direct tracer of CO photodissociation in comets. However, in Hale-Bopp's large, dense coma, other processes, such as collisional excitation of ground-state C(3P), dissociative recombination of CO+, and collisional dissociation of CO and CO2 may produce significant amounts of C(1D). The long C(1D) radiative lifetime (~4000 s) makes collisional deexcitation (quenching) the primary loss mechanism in the inner coma. Thus, a detailed, self-consistent global model of collisional and photochemical interactions is necessary to fully account for [C I] 9850 Å emission in comet Hale-Bopp.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Measurements of [C I] Emission from Comet Hale-Bopp does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Measurements of [C I] Emission from Comet Hale-Bopp, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Measurements of [C I] Emission from Comet Hale-Bopp will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1441166

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.